Perhaps the first fire, the first tool, the first wheel, the first carving in a limestone cave, had each possessed a symbolic rather than a practical value, had each been pressed to serve distortion rather than reality. It was a sort of madness that had driven man from his humble sites on the edges of the woods into towns and cities, into arts and wars, into religious crusades, into martyrdom and prostitution, into dyspepsia and fasting, into love and hatred, into this present cul-de-sac; it had all come about in pursuit of symbols. In the beginning was the symbol, and darkness was over the face of the Earth.
quote by Brian Aldiss
Submitted by Veronica Serbanoiu
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Related quotes
Behold Changing Faces Of Persecution
The history of religious persecution
the names honour roll of martyrs
who have died for their faith
goes back thousands of years
crosses countries continents
genders all sections of societies
religions like new boys on the block
suffer pain martyrdom as faith price
emergent religions begin to rise
are eliminated or rise to dominance
when if power political control
is attained so often comes the turn
abuse of power distortion of prophets
original message tolerant love peace
becomes distorted by those who use
religion to further agenda political
need to convert control dominate
becomes crusades wars international
conflict as despots annex land claims
empires resource need oils aggression
political pretext is always righteous
war on terror to protect nations freedoms.
poem by Terence George Craddock
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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War and Peace
Wars cannot give a lasting peace;
Wars cause much hatred and ill-will;
Wars are futile and costly too;
Wars break existing peace with ease!
Wars cause deep wounds of hearts and minds
–That can’t be healed except by time;
Wars lead to loss of lives untold
–That cannot be ever regained.
Wars serve to foment more troubles;
Wars make the world more insecure;
Wars shift the balance of powers;
Wars do not solve the world’s problems.
Love only solves great differences;
Love only bonds the earth’s peoples;
Love only brings peace with much ease;
Love is the key to global peace.
Copyright by Dr John Celes 8-29-2008
poem by John Celes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Hatred
You keep on accusing me
Of making your life misery
But if that's not abusing me, what isn't
You wanna be my friend, well it's too late
My love for you has turned to hate
And i think that it's a permanent condition
You say you wanna make the peace
Smile and turn the other cheek
I can't put myself in such a weak position
Now i'm willing to accept this fate
You and me just can't cohabitate
We agree to hate and that's our fast decision
Hatred, hatred
Is the only thing that keeps us together
Hatred, hatred
Is the only thing that lasts forever
Driven by hate, driven by hate
Driven by hate, driven by hate
On the surface i'm a mild-mannered person
That's until you scratch the animal inside
Then you bring out all my animal aggression
I gotta hatred for you that is never gonna die
Driven to hate, driven to hate
Driven to hate, driven to hate
Chorus:
Hatred, hatred
Is the only thing that lasts forever
Hatred, hatred
Is the only thing that keeps us together
While races try to integrate
Nations try to gravitate
Towards equal rights, regardless of religion
Politicians might decree
For the sake of humanity
Love and peace instead of a collision
You and me accept reality
There's no way that we can agree
The world can't make us alter this position
At least you and i know where we stand
We can't be friends, walk hand in hand
My hostility for you defies description
Hatred, hatred
Is the only thing that keeps us together
Hatred, hatred
Is the only thing that lasts forever
Driven by hate, driven by hate
Driven by hate, driven by hate
Hate's the only thing we have in common
There's no escape, we'll always be this way
So we might as well just learn to live together
'cos we're gonna be this way till our dying day
Driven by hate, driven by hate
Driven by hate, driven by hate
Chorus
If you keep on putting me down
Rub my name into the ground
I'll drag the dirt all over town about you
And if you spread the filth on me
I'll only have one remedy
I'll spill the beans, you'll see i've got a mouth, too
Chorus (2x)
Yeah, hatred
Your attitude is downright rude
Your jokes appall me, they're so crude
Why don't you just drop dead and don't recover
I'm the mirror to your mood
You hate me and i hate you
So at least we understand each other
Hatred, hatred is the only thing that lasts, what is it?
Hatred, hatred
Hatred, hatred
Is the only thing that lasts forever
Hatred, hatred
Is the only thing that lasts forever
song performed by by Kinks
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Hatred (A Duet)
You keep on accusing me
Of making your life misery
But if thats not abusing me, what isnt
You wanna be my friend, well its too late
My love for you has turned to hate
And I think that its a permanent condition
You say you wanna make the peace
Smile and turn the other cheek
I cant put myself in such a weak position
Now Im willing to accept this fate
You and me just cant cohabitate
We agree to hate and thats our fast decision
Hatred, hatred
Is the only thing that keeps us together
Hatred, hatred
Is the only thing that lasts forever
Driven by hate, driven by hate
Driven by hate, driven by hate
On the surface Im a mild-mannered person
Thats until you scratch the animal inside
Then you bring out all my animal aggression
I gotta hatred for you that is never gonna die
Driven to hate, driven to hate
Driven to hate, driven to hate
Chorus:
Hatred, hatred
Is the only thing that lasts forever
Hatred, hatred
Is the only thing that keeps us together
While races try to integrate
Nations try to gravitate
Towards equal rights, regardless of religion
Politicians might decree
For the sake of humanity
Love and peace instead of a collision
You and me accept reality
Theres no way that we can agree
The world cant make us alter this position
At least you and I know where we stand
We cant be friends, walk hand in hand
My hostility for you defies description
Hatred, hatred
Is the only thing that keeps us together
Hatred, hatred
Is the only thing that lasts forever
Driven by hate, driven by hate
Driven by hate, driven by hate
Hates the only thing we have in common
Theres no escape, well always be this way
So we might as well just learn to live together
cos were gonna be this way till our dying day
Driven by hate, driven by hate
Driven by hate, driven by hate
Chorus
If you keep on putting me down
Rub my name into the ground
Ill drag the dirt all over town about you
And if you spread the filth on me
Ill only have one remedy
Ill spill the beans, youll see Ive got a mouth, too
Chorus (2x)
Yeah, hatred
Your attitude is downright rude
Your jokes appall me, theyre so crude
Why dont you just drop dead and dont recover
Im the mirror to your mood
You hate me and I hate you
So at least we understand each other
Hatred, hatred is the only thing that lasts, what is it?
Hatred, hatred
Hatred, hatred
Is the only thing that lasts forever
Hatred, hatred
Is the only thing that lasts forever
song performed by by Kinks
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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World’s Clarion Call: Stop All Wars; Love Your Brethren!
Wars spread terror;
Wars cause horror;
Wars kill persons;
Wars maim people;
Wars pollute air;
Wars contaminate soil;
Wars destroy buildings;
Wars ravage cities;
Wars ruin countries;
Wars cause hatred;
Wars are expensive;
Wars escalate prices;
Wars create enemies;
Wars generate ill-will;
Wars instill mistrust;
Wars make the poor, poorer;
Wars make the world,
A difficult place to live in;
Don’t waste money on futile wars.
Love settles conflicts;
Love gets friends;
Love converts foes;
Love leads to dialogue;
Love spreads brotherhood;
Love brings lasting peace;
Love leads to progress;
Love is all-encompassing;
Love is the key to human problems;
Love rules the universe;
Love leads to heaven;
Stop the wars and love your brethren;
Science should improve man’s plight;
Unite against human calamities;
Fight diseases, poverty, and illiteracy;
Leaders should give up their ego;
The world should be free of fear;
Peaceful co-existence should bring all near;
Make the earth more habitable for all.
This is the world’s clarion call!
Copyright by Dr John Celes 3-30-2007
poem by John Celes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Scar
Travelling through
Flashback to you
Fire
I see fire
Sun in my eyes
People in love
Talk far too much
Cities have lights
Cities have lights
Sun in my eyes
Car passenger
Fate at the wheel
Quick kiss of death
Car passenger
Fate at the wheel
Quick kiss of death
Travelling through
Cities have lights
Cities have lights
Car passenger
Fire
I see fire
Lyrics : j kerr music : simple minds (c) emi publishing ltd reproduced without permission
song performed by by Simple Minds
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Darkness Was Enveloping Her
The darkness was enveloping her,
covering her from above,
while he pressed her down,
with a knife against her throat
and the nightmare was no dream,
but intense reality
where he was raping her
forcing himself into her trembling body.
When she tried to resist,
his black fist slammed down
hitting her in the face
and the night became much darker
and from sheer terror
it was as he was demon possessed
and her mind went blank.
poem by Gert Strydom
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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If You Love Somebody
if you love somebody
you will surely miss that
somebody, no matter how you keep
that somebody inside your mind
unable to say a name
or draw a face or remember a scent
no matter how you bury that
somebody, that somebody always comes
alive in your memory that
somebody always comes face to face with
you
a smile of that
somebody a touch of that
somebody
in your dream that
somebody comes and reminds you
of a love that is true
of a kiss that is real
of the night when you made love without uttering any name
just symbols
of a rose
a dew
and some thorns about that somebody
who loves you
and that somebody
whom you also truly love
now in the symbol of a thorn
a heartache
always a forgetting and a memory that refuses to leave
a remembering
just symbols now
a wind a dark night a hush a flitting thought
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Symbolic Need
For those into scriptures.
To quote to stir up a closeness to God.
The Bible is a purpose to reference Him.
Although many open it to underscore...
How best to remove themselves from sin!
Without a single clue,
The Earth is a living and breathing 'entity'.
If it wasn't for the Sun...
And its relationship to the Moon,
None of us would have conflict...
If an ignorance of this would from us be lifted.
None of us would fight...
Over who has more of a religious right!
Since long before those divisions began...
The Moon was there!
And so was the Sun.
Along with the Stars we see at night.
And those into a self righteousness...
Even with a 'divine' tool to use.
Will always find reasons to feed,
A symbolic need to physically...
Authorize their appetites.
As God watches,
From an omniprescence.
Knowing from a darkness...
He patiently awaits for us,
To turn on the 'lights'!
By simply asking for this to be done.
And yet...
All of us are not assigned to see,
The magnificence that 'is' of this 'Deity'.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Awaken Little Dreamer
With my eyes closed I see sadness. Sadness I held in for so long. Sadness that is beginning to be replaced with madness. Madness that's been eating at my core, my thought process, my mind for so long.
Eyes open, I see a reality I've been trying to to change, to better it. A lie, I've been living a lie. My life is a lie, one I've been living for so long.
A single tear escapes my eye as I am awaking from my made up reality, my created world. Reality, my reality is tragic not magic. Tears I held back now pour from my eyes, tears I held back for so long.
With my eyes closed I see sadness. I see pain masked by madness. I see sadness hidden by a web of lies and as I open my eyes I hear a voice say, 'Awaken from your dream, come and face reality. Awaken little dreamer. Awaken.'
poem by Suzaku Vaneko
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Rotations
Rotations, ant, at, as, it, is, on, no, root, toot, soot, to, so, art, stain;
The news in the village spread all over like wild fire! !
So watch your lips before you speak,
For, that wasn't my story!
So, come and let me tell you the truth.
Rotations, soon, toast, soar, or, nor, tars, tar, rats, rat, at, arts, saint;
But hatred had led many to throw the bombs onto others! !
Killing them in the name of their so-called teachings,
But, without true-love, there will be no peace on this earth.
Rotations, star, ton, not, ion, ions, rot, set, sort, sit, son, sin, tin, tins, tan;
And like the bomb blast in Abuja-Nigeria killing many! !
But, this act will not bring us peace,
For we need the roses of love than the bullets of war!
poem by Edward Kofi Louis
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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A Business Trip. Sonnet for Epiphany.
Their wives were not too keen about it all:
beyond the call of duty, so it seemed;
for if they read the heavens’ portents so well,
what need of proof; of presence at the scene?
And then, to go without due retinue
through unforgiving deserts, foreign towns,
and forests hiding thieves - and wild beasts too?
And carrying rich gifts? And worse – their crowns!
And so, to risk three kingdoms, not just one?
And this, for sake of some religious creed
not even theirs? … ‘Nay, love – it must be done:
we crown our lives, and kingdoms, with this deed;
these crowns are symbols of our rule on earth
to yield the King of Heaven at His Birth..’
poem by Michael Shepherd
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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For Advent: A Business Trip
Their wives were not too keen about it all:
beyond the call of duty, so it seemed;
for, if they read the heavens' portents so well,
what need of proof, of presence at the scene?
and then, to go without due retinue
through unforgiving deserts; foreign towns;
and forests hiding thieves and wild beasts too?
and carrying rich gifts? and worse, their crowns?
and so to risk three kingdoms, not just one?
and for the sake of some religious creed
not even ours? 'Nay, love - it must be done;
we crown our lives and kingdoms with this deed;
these crowns are symbols of our rule on earth,
to yield the King of Heaven at His birth.'
poem by Michael Shepherd
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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0038 On the Day of Christ's Epiphany
Their wives were not too keen about it all:
beyond the call of duty, so it seemed;
for, if they read the heavens' portents so well,
what need of proof, of presence at the scene?
And then, to go without due retinue
through unforgiving deserts; foreign towns;
and forests hiding thieves and wild beasts too?
And carrying rich gifts? And worse, their crowns?
And so to risk three kingdoms, not just one?
And for the sake of some religious creed
not even ours? 'Nay, love - it must be done;
we crown our lives and kingdoms with this deed;
these crowns are symbols of our rule on earth,
to yield the King of Heaven at His birth.'
poem by Michael Shepherd
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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One Breath, One Hunger!
if you've not heard
anything else that i've said...
look in the mirror,
and see yourself.
look at all others,
and see yourself.
look for God,
and see yourself.
look at yourself,
and see all of life.
look at yourself,
and see all those suffering.
look at yourself,
and see all others.
look at yourself,
and see God!
every thing you feel,
is being felt.
every thing you need,
needed by all.
every tear you cry,
on every face.
every prayer you pray,
a part of all prayer.
look to the earth,
and see yourself.
look into yourself,
and see the earth!
listen to the heartbeat,
of which you are part...
part of the whole,
of all that is life.
we are constantly being born,
and constantly dying...
death and birth, the same journey...
no beginning, no end...
the dream, the reality,
dead branches feed the fire...
darkness, and dawn,
one breath, one hunger!
poem by Eric Cockrell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Sonnet for the Day of Epiphany
Their wives were not too keen about it all:
beyond the call of duty, so it seemed;
for, if they read the heavens' portents so well,
what need of proof, of presence at the scene?
And then, to go without due retinue
through unforgiving deserts; foreign towns;
and forests hiding thieves and wild beasts too?
And carrying rich gifts? And worse, their crowns?
And so to risk three kingdoms, not just one?
And for the sake of some religious creed
not even ours? 'Nay, love - it must be done;
we crown our lives and kingdoms with this deed;
these crowns are symbols of our rule on earth,
to yield the King of Heaven at His birth'
(revisited)
poem by Michael Shepherd
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Magic And Loss
When you pass through the fire
you pass through humble
You pass through a maze of self doubt
When you pass through humble
the lights can blind you
Some people never figure that out
You pass through arrogance you pass through hurt
You pass through an ever present past
and it's best not to wait for luck to save you
Pass through the fire to the light
As you pass through the fire
your right hand waving
there are things you have to throw out
That caustic dread inside your head
will never help you out
You have to be very strong
'cause you'll start from zero
over and over again
And as the smoke clears
there's an all consuming fire
lying straight ahead
They say no one person can do it all
but you want to in your head
But you can't be Joyce
so what is left instead
You're stuck with yourself
and a rage that can hurt you
You have to start at the beginning again
And just this moment
This wonderful fire started up again
When you pass through humble
when you pass through sickly
When you pass through
I'm better than you all
When you pass through
anger and self deprecation
and have the strength to acknowledge it all
When the past makes you laugh
and you can savor the magic
that let you survive your own war
You find that that fire is passion
and there's a door up ahead not a wall
As you pass through fire as you pass through fire
trying to remember its name
When you pass through fire licking at your lips
you cannot remain the same
And if the building' burning
move towards that door
but don't put the flames out
There's a bit of magic in everything
and then some loss to even
song performed by by Lou Reed
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Tree Of Light Dances
Pursuit of otherness died
with you, from sameness.
It was a blind chemistry.
The cancellation of consciousness
did not lead to peace.
In the name of freedom
we destroyed our relations.
The shadow of sphinx always overlook us,
shaping bare bones.
Epic symbols gave you
the infinity of after life.
You grope in dark
to find the future
and present suffers in austerity.
The space between inner and outer body widens.
Something has to be done
to provoke the legends to become the evidence.
You adore a conclusion
it never changes. Images differ,
myths and symbols make a dry sound.
The silence is wrenched into a seizure,
falling into the emptiness of tomorrow.
Unreasonable thrust of color
does not alter the darkness of blood
and song. Tree of light dances.
poem by Satish Verma
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Art of Symbol
Whether meaningful, or just beautiful
Whether easy to understand, whether full of mystery
A simply shape, or a detailed design
Symbol is created
From nature, from imagination
From dream, from experience
Whether adaptable, whether unchanged
Symbol is taken
For secrecy, for practical
The color, the code
To unite, to protect
Symbol is used
God's sign, devil's mark
Good luck, bad omen
A clear help, or a hidden warning
Symbol is interpreted
poem by Maria Sudibyo
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Enough Money Spent On Wars
What agony; accumulative emotive costs;
feed needle; soul destroying drug addictions?
What monstrous greed
cloaked in racial hatred;
fed with religious hatred
feeds covert wars justified?
When will we; with humanity feed;
with compassion; brothers sisters imprisoned;
in race conflict; poverty dying discarded;
in ignored horrors; extant third world?
Ban every earth war feed our poor
not capitalist corporate baron robbers;
glutted on global sly sweat shop wages
slum lord rents death reaped war profits?
Misery is waste residue of souls
which seek self pleasure materialism;
instead of gift of giving to others
oiled crimes greases palms capitalism.
It is still universally eternally true
it is better to give than to receive;
to sow sacred love not bile hatred
sow prosperity not starvation greed.
Enough money to buy drugs
to support epidemic addictions;
who will feed our suffering world?
Enough money spent on wars
to house all our earth's homeless;
who will house humanities homeless?
Who will feed the poor?
Ban every war feed the poor.
No need to ask who will bank on feed;
crime world exploitation materialism?
Spend money spent on wars
to house all earth's homeless;
feed our poor do not feed wars.
Souls who feed world materialism
will not house human immortal souls;
while flesh rots in blown away dust
in greedy winds of war greed lust.
poem by Terence George Craddock
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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